His books reflect this country and our Christian and Jewish values from about 1880 through the mid to late 1950s. Joe says something like this: around 1960 the light went out in much of America. Too many people are ignorant of their American heritage. These books will awaken the young (and old) to who we are.

The two books showcased here are: What’s So Good About Tough Times? Stories of People Refined by Difficulty — and Easter in My Heart: Uplifting Stories of Redemption & Hope. Both are compiled and Edited by Joe Wheeler.

What’s so Good About Tough Times? Stories of People Refined by Difficulty

As with each of his collections of stories, Joe Wheeler writes an introduction, and publishes one of his own stories. He usually includes a short “teaser” before each story.

The last story in the book is written by Joe, called “October Song.” Joe opens his story with a poem he wrote from the standpoint of the protagonist in the story. Throughout the story he sprinkles in poems, or parts of poems by Emily Dickinson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Each selection magnifies and gives more dimension to the unfolding story.

This particular story brought tears to my eyes. Note: almost all of the stories Joe Wheeler publishes bring at least a hint of a tear to my eyes.

One of the messages: don’t invite past hurts to keep you from knowing genuine love.

Easter in My Heart: Uplifting Stories of Redemption & Hope

Joe wrote one of the stories in this collection, but the one highlighted here is: “Mrs. Pepper Passes.” His introduction to this story by Helen Ward Banks follows:

“Old Mrs. Horn had very little to be happy about in life, and she let the world know of it. The same was true of old Mrs. Pepper, but her message to the world was totally different. On that beautiful Easter morning, oh how Mrs. Pepper wished she could make a difference!

“But she was too poor Or so she thought.”

This will encourage each of us to do the little things that we can to lift the loads of others carry — and to share encouragement and spread sunshine into the hearts of others.